A Wizz Air flight travelling from London to Bulgaria was forced to divert to Hungary on Monday (2 November) following a bomb threat received mid-flight, the airline has confirmed.
The Airbus A321 had departed Luton Airport at 8.15am and was bound for Sofia Airport in the Bulgarian capital. While cruising over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the aircraft changed course after the threat was reported, according to flight-tracking data from FlightRadar24.
The plane had been scheduled to land in Sofia at approximately 1.25pm local time, but was instead rerouted north toward Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport.
Fighter jet scrambled as part of emergency response
Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi confirmed in a Facebook post that a Hungarian air force fighter jet was deployed as part of the emergency response. The jet escorted the passenger aircraft through Hungarian airspace, ensuring it landed safely in the capital.
Upon arrival in Budapest, the airliner taxied to a designated isolated stand where local emergency services and security authorities initiated thorough inspections.
Airline statement and security checks
In a statement released on Monday, a spokesperson for Wizz Air said: "Wizz Air confirms that today’s London Luton-Sofia flight was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat received during the flight.
"The aircraft diverted and landed safely at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in accordance with the relevant security protocols and procedures, before taxiing to a designated stand, where the relevant authorities carried out the necessary security checks on the aircraft and passengers."
They added: "Wizz Air is cooperating fully with the authorities. The safety of passengers and crew remains our highest priority."
Aircraft cleared and journey to resume
Following a comprehensive search of the cabin, luggage, and airframe, authorities cleared the aircraft after finding no explosive devices or security risks on board. Wizz Air confirmed on Monday afternoon that the checks were complete and the aircraft was preparing to resume its journey to Sofia shortly.
